China has revealed plans to build a permanent airfield in Antarctica. The airstrip reflects China's growing interest in the world's southernmost and coldest continent. A growing presence in Antarctica has strategic implications, but it is a natural development for a country with expanding global interests. It is essential, however, that China be a good citizen of Antarctica, and honor the legal and diplomatic conventions that govern behavior there.
Antarctica is the only continent without a native human presence. That inspired 12 countries (Japan among them) to draw up the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. That agreement, which went into effect in 1961, declares that Antarctica is a zone of peace and establishes it as a scientific preserve. It prohibits military activities, mineral mining, nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal. It supports scientific research and protects its environment. Since it was ratified, 38 other countries have become signatories.
China ratified the Antarctic Treaty in 1983 and assumed consultative status — which allows it to take part in deliberations over management of the continent; only the 29 countries that carry out substantial scientific activity in Antarctica qualify — two years later. Since then, it has built three permanent Antarctic bases, two field camps and three airfields. It joins 14 other countries that have built more than 50 permanent airfields.